Saving palila program a failure
West Hawaii Today ran another article concerning an attempt to prevent the demise of the endangered palila. Nothing at all was said regarding successes or failures.
In 1980, the environmentalists got Judge King to allow aerial eradication of feral sheep on Mauna Kea. Environmentalists claimed the sheep were eating palila’s only food source, the mamane tree. After 34 years of aerial eradication efforts at horrendous costs, there should be an increase in palila. The opposite is true. While the sheep population has declined, so has the palila population. Is it not amazing they don’t share this tidbit of information?
They want to designate the Humuulu area as critical habitat for palila when there is no known history of palila to have occupied the area in the past. They are setting themselves up to release captive-bred palila in this area while drastically curtailing the landowners’ property rights along with its property value.
They have yet to answer the question: With literally tens of thousands of acres of mamane forests in the saddle between Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Mauna Loa, why is this area void of palila? It’s proof the environmental community doesn’t know what it is doing in spite of spending millions of dollars. Always remember, in addition to their paychecks, they also have the politicians in their pocket.
Bill Rosehill
Kailua-Kona
Mahalo to all who helped cancer patients
On Oct. 18, Hurricane Ana day, Kamaaina Diamond Co. went forward with its haircutting event, in association with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
With four hairstylists volunteering, more than 40 hair cuts were done. Approximately 1,000 inches of ponytails will be donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to be distributed to cancer patients applying for a free wig through American Cancer Society. Pantene Beautiful Lengths guarantees a large percentage of contributions will come back to the islands.
I would like to personally extend our gratitude and huge mahalo to everyone that played a part in the success of our latest haircutting event.
Brenda Prout
Kamaaina Diamond Co.
Kailua-Kona